InsightCuba President Talks Trump

InsightCuba president Tom Popper remains optimistic about travel to Cuba, despite President-elect Donald Trump’s tweet suggesting otherwise, he said during a webinar on Wednesday.

Earlier this week Trump said on Twitter that “if Cuba is unwilling to make a better deal for the Cuban people, the Cuban/American people and the U.S. as a whole, I will terminate the deal.”

Popper questioned what exactly that means, noting, “He’ll make changes if he doesn’t strike a better deal, but what does a better deal mean?” While acknowledging that ultimately it’s an executive order, he noted how very complex the set of policies needed to replace the agreement would be, and said he’s hopeful the Secretary of State will guide the process.

The current agreement, inked by President Obama this year, eased restrictions on commerce and trade, and allowed individual Americans to visit the island nation as long as they set up their own people-to-people educational programs. Previously only tour groups could visit. Popper said he’s hopeful this remains intact.

Should Trump end the deal, Popper warned, companies including Marriott, JetBlue and American Airlines that have invested in Cuba would take a “considerable amount of damage.”